Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) Practice Exam

The correct dispensing code for a prescription written for Cymbalta 20 mg without a "Dispensed as Written" (DAW) indication is 0. This code signifies that there are no specific instructions from the prescriber that would prevent the use of a generic substitution. In cases where the prescriber does not specify that the brand-name product must be dispensed, pharmacists are permitted to substitute a therapeutically equivalent generic medication, if available.

The inclusion of a DAW code provides specific instructions from the prescriber regarding generic substitution. When DAW is not indicated, it clearly states that the pharmacist has the discretion to choose between brand-name and generic options.

The other codes represent different scenarios; for example, a code of 1 typically indicates that the prescriber has mandated the brand-name product must be dispensed, while codes of 2 and 3 typically reflect circumstances where the patient requests specific products or where there is an alternative product that could be dispensed instead. However, in the absence of any DAW instruction, the most appropriate code to reflect that substitution is allowed is 0.